Wood's return date from blister remains uncertain

Kerry Wood warms up before the start of a game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune)

KANSAS CITY -- When Kerry Wood returned from a blister injury in 2008 and struggled during a stretch, manager Lou Piniella was asked if he was worried about his closer.

"You know, the amazing thing about managing a baseball team- if you're a little bit of a worry-wart, you have something to worry about every single day,” Piniella replied. “Halfway through the year, you need a psychiatrist, and by the end of the year you need a bed. So no, I'm not concerned about anything."

Three years later, Piniella has retired, the Cubs have their own psychiatrist and Mike Quade is trying to get through the loss of Wood with another blister problem. Quade conceded Saturday that he can’t say when Wood will return from the disabled list.

Wood went on the DL on June 13, and it was backdated to June 9, meaning he is eligible to come off. But it doesn't appear that he's close to returning, and may miss another week or so.

“I’m trying to understand the blister thing,” Quade said. “It’s somewhat healed, but now you need layers of skin, a thickness, or even a callus if you can get it.”

Wood missed nearly a month in the summer of 2008. He's thrown with and without padding on the right index finer.

“He and (trainer Mark O’Neal) ought to have as good a fix on it as anybody because they’ve been through it before,” Quade said. “I just wait until they tell me it’s good. I know he’d love to be ready at home (next week) and I hope he is, but I’m not sure of that yet.”

Rookie Chris Carpenter and Jeff Samardzija have shared the right-handed set-up role in Wood’s absence, and Quade said Carpenter has performed well enough that he could stick around after Wood returns.